For a few seconds, Myra couldn't even understand what had just happened.
The applause around her felt distant… blurred… almost unreal.
The lights that once felt like her dream now seemed too bright, almost blinding her eyes.
She stood there as the first runner-up, but her heart… her heart was somewhere else.
"This wasn't supposed to happen…"
Her lips forced a smile, because the cameras were still on her.
Because people were still watching her.
Because she had to look strong… even when she was breaking inside.
Backstage Breakdown
As soon as the event ended, Myra quietly walked backstage.
The moment she entered her room, she closed the door…
And finally… she broke down.
Tears rolled down uncontrollably.
Not just because she lost…
But because she had given everything for this.
She sat on the floor, hugging her knees tightly.
"Why…?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"I did everything right… then why not me?"
The Turning Moment
After crying for a long time, Myra slowly wiped her tears.
Her hands were still shaking when she picked up her phone.
She didn't even realize what she was doing…
But her fingers automatically opened the gallery.
And then—
Her eyes stopped.
It was Aarav's photo.
For a moment, everything went silent.
She stared at his picture…
The same calm face… the same eyes… the same person who once made her feel safe.
Her tears didn't stop…
But this time, they felt different.
A soft smile appeared on her lips.
"Maybe… I didn't lose everything…" she whispered.
Her heart slowly started feeling lighter.
"I still have Aarav…"
Those words gave her a strange kind of strength.
The crown was gone…
The title was gone…
But someone who once mattered the most—
He still existed in her world.
New Hope
She held her phone close to her chest.
"Maybe this loss… isn't the end," she said softly.
"Maybe I was running after the wrong thing…"
Her breathing steadied.
For the first time after the result…
Her eyes didn't show just pain.
They showed hope.
"I need to go to Aarav…" she said, this time with determination.
"I need to see him… I need to talk to him…"
As if her heart already knew where it wanted to go.
The Decision
Myra stood up.
Her legs were still weak… but her mind was clear.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
"Yes… I lost the crown," she said.
"But I haven't lost myself… and I haven't lost him."
A deep breath.
"I'm going to Aarav."
Hook Line
Sometimes, when one dream breaks…
Your heart reminds you of what truly matters.
But the real question is—
Will Aarav still be there for Myra… the way she hopes?